A recent sex-trafficking seminar revealed an alarming fact: Caddo Parish ranks highest in the state — tied with New Orleans — for number of children forced into the sex industry.(Photo: aradaphotography, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A recent sex trafficking training for advocates, volunteers and nonprofits revealed an alarming fact: Caddo Parish ranks highest in the state — tied with New Orleans — for number of children forced into the sex industry.

“What is so sad and devastating is that people turn a deaf ear to it,” said Shamaro Pennington, a Project Celebration, Inc. advocate who attended the training. “It’s happening right under our noses.”

Sex trafficking is defined as adults working in the sex industry through force, fraud or coercion or any children under 18 involved in the sex industry.

According to data from the Department of Children and Family Services, 102 of 172 sex trafficking victims in Louisiana in 2015 were children. Eighteen of those victims were under the age of 12. And according to data from the FBI, 13 of those children were rescued from the Shreveport area

Shreveport also figured into Operation Cross Country IX, a 2015 sting operation to recover child victims that took place between Oct. 8-10. During that operation, two child victims were recovered and seven pimps were arrested.

Shobana Powell of Caddo Parish Juvenile Services said the organization knows of at least 14 pimps in the Shreveport area. Powell said most cases of child exploitation in Shreveport-Bossier City occur when family, friends, relatives or strangers whom young people encounter introduce them to “the game” or “the life.”

Local examples include the 2013 case of Randall and Brandi White, a couple who trafficked two teenage girls from their home in Elm Grove as well as the 2013 case of Qualyn Deshawn Mitchell and Erica Patrice Campbell, a couple who were arrested for bringing a 16-year old from Dallas to Bossier City with intent of forcing the teen into prostitution.

More recent examples include the 2016 arrests of Deundrae Payne and Ladarious Guy, both of whom were charged with human trafficking in February 2016. McGehee also shared the story of “Julie”: a 9-year-old girl in Shreveport who was sexually abused by her father and later trafficked by her mother. "Julie" has since been relocated to a group home outside of the community, McGehee said.

The four-hour training took place at the Caddo Parish Coroner's office and included an introduction to sex trafficking, an overview of the Community Response Team’s efforts in combating trafficking in Caddo Parish and a special section on trauma informed care. Presenters included Laurie McGehee and Shobana Powell from Caddo Parish Juvenile Services and Brittany Pearson from the FREE Coalition.

Pearson said she became involved in the life at 18, when the man she was dating started setting her up on “dates” — a common term used by exploiters to refer to meetings arranged with paying customers. When her parents found out, Pearson said her pimp bought her a bus ticket and sent her back home because he didn’t want to get in trouble. On that bus ride, though, Pearson met another hustler — one she later fell in love with.

“He was very wise. He made me feel special,” Pearson told the audience. “I fell in love with him. I never wanted to leave him. I thought I was going to be with him for the rest of my life.”

Brittany Pearson (left) and Shobana Powell (right) educated about how to talk to victims of sex trafficking(Photo: Lex Talamo)

Pearson became pregnant with her trafficker’s child and that was when he started being abusive. Pearson said her relationship with that man ended when she heard a knock on her hotel room one day, opened the door and came face to face with her father — whom she said “manhandled” her into a car and got her help through Purchased, a Shreveport-based group offering support and rehabilitation services to women leaving the life. Now, Pearson is a house-mom with Purchased, a public speaker, and a woman whose mission is helping other women in a similar situation.

“It took me years to realize the depth of what had happened to me,” Pearson said.

Sex trafficking awareness training(Photo: Lex Talamo)

The training included how to identify warning signs in potential trafficking victims, including tattoos or brandings, suddenly owning expensive items such as jewelry or new cell phones or patterns of missing school — especially close to the first of the month, when rent is due for many families.

“It’s about noticing patterns and asking questions when you see those things,” Powell said.

Powell said individuals who suspect a child may be being trafficked may call the juvenile branch of the Purchased Program, at 318-459-8549. McGehee also detailed efforts by the Community Response Team, which had its second year anniversary on March 29.

“We knew it was going on, and we couldn’t just ignore it,” McGehee said of the team, which consists of more than 30 individuals and organizations from nonprofits, law enforcement and the court system.

A majority of about two dozen women in attendance were involved with Project Celebration, Inc. — a local organization that helps women recovering from domestic abuse. Many said the training helped make them more aware of the situation in Shreveport-Bossier City.

“It was very helpful, especially recognizing what we’re dealing with and knowing the red flags so we can pay attention,” said Petrina Jenkins of Project Celebration. “We are going to be able to take a lot back to our respective areas.”

Many in attendance were from Project Celebration, Inc, a local organization that helps survivors of domestic violence(Photo: Lex Talamo)

Terri Catlett, a volunteer with the women’s group Zonta, said the training inspired her to become more involved. She was grateful presenters were helping raise awareness about trafficking.

“It needs to be more in the forefront,” Catlett said. “Out of sight, out of mind. If people don’t know about it, they don’t have to do anything.”